Fashola suspends honorary awards in LASU

Governor Babatunde Fashola of Lagos State, yesterday, announced the indefinite suspension of the conferment of honorary award on any person by authorities of Lagos State University, LASU, saying the award had been desecrated in recent times.

Fashola said he had ordered LASU Governing Council to suspend the conferment of honorary award as part of measure towards improving the standard of the institution and restoring the value of honorary award by ensuring that only deserving persons were bestowed same.

The governor, who announced this at the 17th convocation of the institution, said the award had been abused as many now wait for the award before contributing to the development of the society.

Fashola, who did not hide his disdain over indiscriminate award of honours on undeserving people, noted that previous honorary degrees conferred by institutions across the country from different disciplines had not reflected in adding values to the society.

He added that in the country today, Nigerians now desire to receive title and honour before impacting on the society.

He said: “What is the basis for honour? Do we have electricity, can we refine our own petroleum products?”

He added that if the country had not been able to achieve all these, why were the institutions in the country honouring people with degrees.

“And, because we are determined to keep the honours of this great institution, we had decided to raise the bar. Our university (LASU) ceased to lead this society to a higher degree of excellence by challenging our people to do more for the improvement of the country,” he added.